What is your professional background?
I worked in retail management for almost 15 years. I always loved the hectic and busy schedule, but not long after the birth of my second child I decided it was time to find something that better fit the needs of our family. I missed having dinner with my family every night and tucking my kids into bed. I’m now a receptionist at a pediatric dental center. It’s the perfect fit for our life right now!
How long have you been volunteering for Angel’s Wish?
About 1 year.
Why did you choose Angel’s Wish?
We adopted our cat, Mert, from Angel’s Wish the summer of 2017. I had been looking for a volunteer opportunity working with animals for a while, but nothing worked out with my schedule. I got an email from Angel’s Wish looking for volunteers, and they’re flexible schedule worked out perfectly!
What are your volunteering duties?
I’m the Sunday morning caretaker. I get to greet all the kittens and cats early Sunday morning, make sure they have fresh food and water, and clean their cages. It’s an awesome way to start my day!
What pets do you have?
We have one cat, Mert, who is three years old. He’s sweet and sassy and we just love him! His name was given to him a previous shelter, and we wondered what it meant. Turns out it’s a Turkish surname that means manly and trustworthy so we decided to roll with it! And…we are about to adopt our second kitty from Angel’s Wish! Little Luna! We are so excited!
What is most satisfying about volunteering at Angel’s Wish?
Growing up, we lived out in the country, and we had chickens, ducks, geese, hermit crabs, hamsters, turtles, birds, cats and dogs…and that’s just to name a few! I truly have my mom to thank for my unconditional love of animals. She taught me that even the smallest animals can claim a huge space in your heart. Working at Angel’s Wish allows me to connect with animals and make a difference in their lives, even if for a small amount of time. I love to hear stories from the other volunteers about some of my favorite kitties who finally find their fur-ever home. My mom and I still send each other cute animal stories and videos to brighten our days! And of course, I show them to my kids, and their response is always, “Awwww, that’s so cute!” Love of animals runs in the family, of course!